| The piano is great but sometimes a piano is large and | | | | Secondly you should look at polyphony. This means |
| clunky. Sometimes it's nice to have something you can | | | | the number of notes that can be played at the same |
| move around when you want to. It's good to have a | | | | time. The higher the number the more notes. If you are |
| practice keyboard. You take a piano in your room or | | | | first starting out I think 32 note polyphony is good. This |
| even to band practice (unless you have band practice | | | | means 32 notes can be played at the same time |
| at your house). The bottom line is that a keyboard has | | | | without cutting out. Cut out is when you audibly hear |
| much more versatility than a piano. I going to show you | | | | notes stop making sounds. You don't want a lot of cut |
| some things you should look for when choosing a | | | | out. Keep in mind if you use a sustain pedal, every |
| practice keyboard. | | | | note sustained will cause the polyphony to decrease. |
| Keyboards can range anywhere from less than $100 | | | | Some sounds may use two or more instruments |
| to almost $5k or more. It really depends on what | | | | together. This also reduces polyphony. If you are more |
| you're looking for and what your price range is. Some | | | | advanced, look at 64 note polyphony. Any more than |
| keyboards have more features like MIDI compatibility, | | | | that is unnecessary. |
| larger polyphony, and an onboard sequencer. Don't | | | | Roland keyboards have been around for a while and |
| worry; I will explain what everything means. For our | | | | they make a good product. Yamaha's are very good |
| purposes you are going to get a cheap practice | | | | practice keyboards also. I have a Yamaha Motif 8 |
| keyboard (not to cheap) so you can practice anytime | | | | myself. I wouldn't recommend going with a Casio. In my |
| you want. | | | | opinion the have note reached a high enough level as |
| One feature I look at is if the keyboard is MIDI | | | | far as sound quality is concerned. Some people like |
| compatible. First MIDI stands for musical instrument | | | | weighted keys. They are going to be heavy and bulky |
| digital interface. This means that there are standard | | | | and have 88 keys. I recommend getting a |
| instruments that are compatible with any other MIDI | | | | non-weighted 68 key keyboard or a 72 key keyboard. |
| interface such as the computer or a mixing board. | | | | For a decent quality keyboard without breaking the |
| They are not actual sounds only signals that mean | | | | bank, go with a practice keyboard in the price rang of |
| sounds. These signals can trigger any sound you want | | | | $200 to $400. This is where most of the mid quality |
| to place. For instance: you play a piano originally but | | | | sounding keyboard are. They are probably going to |
| decide to change to strings. Because there are no | | | | have fewer features but you are only going to be |
| actual sounds recorded, putting strings in place of the | | | | practicing with this keyboard. If you make the |
| piano is possible. This feature is good for anyone | | | | investment, make sure you make it worth-it. Practice |
| wanting to record what they are playing. | | | | daily. Good luck! |